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VRSZ
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Translation
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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
Desert Fathers
Evagrius said, 'While you sit in your cell, recall your attention, and remember the day of your death and you will see that your body is decaying. Think about the loss, feel the pain. Shrink from the vanity of the world outside. Be retiring, and be careful to keep your vow of quiet, and you will not weaken. Remember the souls in hell. Meditate on their condition, the bitter silence and the moaning, the fear and the strife, the waiting and the pain without relief, the tears that cannot cease to flow. …
Cyprian
We ask that the will of God may be done both in heaven and in earth, each of which things pertains to the fulfillment of our safety and salvation. For since we possess the body from the earth and the spirit from heaven, we ourselves are earth and heaven; and in both—that is, both in body and spirit—we pray that God's will may be done.
Western Saints
Augustine of Hippo
Near the end of the book called Ecclesiastes there is a passage about the dissolution of man, brought about by that death through which the soul is separated from the body, where the Scripture says, "And let the dust return into its earth, as it was, and the spirit return to God who gave it." This authoritative statement is unquestionably true and leads no one into error. …
Jerome
"Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it." He goes on more clearly: "the dust will return to the earth, whence it was taken, and the spirit is returned to God, who gave it". From which there is enough to smile at in those who think that spirits are produced with bodies, not from God, but are made from the parent's body. For when the flesh is returned to the earth, and the spirit goes back to God, who gave it; it is obvious that God is the parent of all spirits, not man.
Bonaventure
Fifth, the incineration of the whole body is noted, when it is said: "And let the dust return to its earth, whence it was," that is, let the body be reduced to ashes, according to that passage in Genesis 3: "You are dust, and to dust you shall return." "To its earth," because it is from it: Sirach 40: "All things that are made of earth shall return to earth." Sixth, the return of the spirit or soul to God is touched upon: whence he says: "And let the spirit return to God, who gave it." The Lord himself gives the spirit, whence it is …
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